Objective 4 MS II

1:2 Trends in Health Care Changes in health care Many events lead to changes in health care Changes in health care are inevitable and occur rapidly Health care workers must be flexible to face and keep pace with the rapid changes

Cost Containment Purpose: control the rising cost of health care and achieve maximum benefit for every dollar spent Necessity: costs increasing with technological advances, improved survival rates, aging population, and health-related lawsuits

Cost Containment Methods Diagnostic related groups (DRGs) Combination of services Outpatient services Mass or bulk purchasing Early intervention and preventive services Energy conservation

Cost Containment Issues Important not to decrease quality of care Workers can decrease costs (e.g., look for areas to control costs and avoid waste, keep expenditures down) Consumers can decrease costs (e.g., take responsibility for their own care, follow preventive measures to decrease need for services, use services appropriately)

Wellness State of optimal health Increase awareness of maintaining health and preventing disease Emphasis on preventative measures rather than waiting for need for curative intervention Different facilities will develop to meet needs of wellness emphasis

Promoting Wellness Physical wellness Emotional wellness Social wellness Mental and intellectual wellness Spiritual wellness

Holistic Health Treat the whole body, mind, and spirit Emphasis on protection and restoration Promote body’s natural healing processes Patient responsible for choosing care and worker respects the choice

Complementary and Alternative Methods of Health Care Increasingly used to replace or supplement traditional medical treatment Holistic approach: belief that the effect on one part effects the whole person Based on belief that the person has a life force or energy that can be used in the healing process May vary by cultural values or beliefs

Types of Practitioners Ayurvedic – grounded in the metaphysics of the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, air, space) Chinese medicine Chiropractors Homeopaths Hypnotists Naturopaths

Types of Therapies Refer to Table 1-8 in text Most are noninvasive and holistic Often less expensive than the more traditional treatments

Types of Therapies Herbs – use substances related to plant products - i.e. lavender and chamomile…typically ingested as oils Hypnosis – artificially-induced sleep or trance state Massage – effleurage, friction, percussion, tapping (often used in pregnancy and childbirth)

Therapies cont’d Nonthermal, nonionizing electromagnetic fields – used for bone repair, nerve stimulation, tissue degeneration and wound healing Bioelectromagnetic therapy – uses alternating current or direct current (electrical phenoma are found in all living organisms)